In my case, I'm a LOT more fit than I was in my 30's. This year, for instance, I participated in my 5th Bicycle Tour of Colorado (450 miles with about 35,000 feet of climbing and high elevations), and completed the infamous Markleeville Death Ride (125 miles, and 16,000 feet of climbing in one day).

In my 30's, I was an overweight smoker trapped in a crappy marriage. Now, at 53, I weigh what I did in high school and can do 100 miles of hills any day of the week. And since the crappy marriage ended, my sex life has improved 1000%.

__________________"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey

I was one of those "Superfit" youngsters up to the age of 34. Then the strain of work- Big Mortgage and young family meant that I had to put my energies elsewhere. Then at the age of 44- I raced my 10 year old up the road and the Knee problem that stopped me from competitive running reared its head again and My Daughter beat me. Luckily- within a few weeks- a very good friend of mine suggested a bike ride and I have been riding ever since. So compared to my fitness of 20 years ago- There is no comparison. Compared to just as I started riding 15 years ago- then I am the fittest I have been in years. But compared to 30 or even 40 years ago- Forget it.

Twenty years ago, I was 60# lighter and a Cat 2 racer. My body fat was a little over 5% vs. 19.5% today. Given all that, I'd say I was much fitter then. However, I was also more susceptible to sore throats, colds, allergies, tendonitis, stomach and abdominal problems, etc. I also suffered a lot of broken bones (from crashing). Sometimes being super fit isn't all that healthy.

The is a tough question, because in our teens, twenties and thirties, we expect some degree of fitness, but not so much later in life. So, from that point of view, I am much fitter now -- relative to my age -- than I was before 43, when I started riding. But even in my mid-thirties, I was lighter, more limber, and less suspectable to being sick.

I just passed 10,000 miles for the last 18 months of riding, and I have to think that regardless of my weight (5'10" x 220) I have to be in better cardio vascular shape than when I was younger.

I was the most fit of my life at age 35. Today at 61 I am probably as fit for my age, but of course that is relative. My longest one-day ride at 35 was 90 miles with a loaded touring bike. Now I occasionally do 60 miles loaded (the bike, not me ).

He had just moved from living in a hospital bed in our sheeted off living room into the addition we had built on the house.

I spent 4 months practically living in the hospital (first in Baton Rouge and then in Craig Rehab Hospital in Denver).

I spent from February for the next 3 years fighting for him to get fully back in life.

I eat under stress, and this was about as much stress as anyone might want. I personally trained over 100 aides, teaching them how to "transfer" and how electric wheelchairs work, and bowel programs and cleaning urine bags (aides don't stick around very long). I fought with numerous agencies for support, I fund raised over $60,000 to help pay for a specialized van and other equipment.

I remodeled computer keyboards to be able to be used with a mouthstick.

My physical condition was the very least of my worries. I gained weight, got totally run down, was continuously exhausted, and did not sleep much or well. Even walking was a strain.

My job went totally out the window.

20 years ago how fit was I?

Pretty close to a total breakdown is how fit I was. Some really BAD memories.

Twenty years ago I was still competing in full contract Karate events. I was fit, and I was hurt all the freaking time. Now, I ride, walk, lift weights, and probably can't take some of shots I used to be able to take, but I'm not hurt near as much, and I'm much happier. I'll take my "fitness" life today, vs. 20 years ago, in a heartbeat.

I took my first "formal" exercise class about 20 years ago and discovered, much to my surprise, that I liked it. I was divorced with 2 little kids and an insane job - and found out that my "improved aerobic fitness" greatly improved my energy level and general outlook on life. The next year, I met a handsome dark-eyed man and fell head over heels - even when he left his high-paying job to start his own business as a gym owner. I must say, though, that after years of teaching all kinds of exercise, I never (ever!) was as aerobically fit as since I started riding this past June 30. 20 years later, I truly believe I feel better today than at 30. And it's SO MUCH FUN!